THAILAND: A Nightmare of Lynching and Burning

Suddenly the nightmare that Bangkok had
dreaded was happening: a wild outbreak of kicking, clubbing, shooting,
lynching. Youths hurled themselves into the river to keep from being
shot. Then the blazing finale as a heap of gasoline-soaked bodies were
set afire. Finally, over the radio came last week's terse announcement:
"The government cannot govern," said a voice. "To keep Thailand from
falling prey to the Communists and to uphold the monarchy, this
[military] council has seized power. The country is under martial law."

The voice was that of stately, thickset Admiral Sangad Chaloryu, 61, who
just two weeks earlier had retired...